Thursday, February 24, 2011

We started to watch the Great Transformation episode from the PBS evolution series. For homework click the picture below to link to a simulation from Richard Dawkins, The Blind Watchmaker to see how accumulating small change over time can lead to big results.

Take a screen shot of your 100th generation and email it to me. On a Mac, press "shift command 4" all at the same time. On a PC use the print screen button.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Origins of Life

Today students had a reading quiz on section 17.1 and took notes on section 17.2. Click the picture below to see a much better animation on the origins of life, than the video we watched in class today.Tonight for homework, read and take notes on 17.3. Tomorrow in class you will be taking notes on 17.4 Please bring your books to class. The sickness has finally gotten the best of me, and I will not be there, but you will have a sub.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Friday, February 18, 2011

Evolution Quiz


Today students had a quiz on evolution and we learned about the evolution of multidrug resistant TB.

Homework: Read and take notes on section 17.1 for a reading quiz

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Finishing Chapter 15

Today we finished chapter 15 and talked about Darwinian fitness, sexual dimorphism, various types of selection and several other concepts. Have fun at the International Food Fair tonight, but make sure to spend sometime before studying for your quiz tomorrow. The quiz is 20 multiple choice questions.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Attack of the Mutant Crickets!!!

Today students read a case study about microevolution in a specie of crickets in Hawaii.

"Attack of the flesh-eating parasitoid maggots!! Mutant mute crickets run rampant in tropical paradise!! The headlines may sound like a trailer for a cheap horror flick — but in fact, these sensationalist sound bites accurately describe the situation on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The "flesh-eating parasitoid maggots" are the offspring of the fly, Ormia ochracea, which invaded Hawaii from North America, and the mutant crickets are the flies' would-be victims. The flies follow the chirps of a calling cricket and then deposit a smattering of wriggling maggots onto the cricket's back. The maggots burrow into the cricket, and emerge, much fatter, a week later — killing the cricket in the process. But this fall, biologists Marlene Zuk, John Rotenberry, and Robin Tinghitella announced a breakdown in business-as-usual in this gruesome interaction: in just a few years, the crickets of Kauai have evolved strategy to avoid becoming a maggot's lunch — but the strategy comes at a cost... " Want to read more or see the article with color photos? Click here.

For homework click the PowerPoint and take notes on the four components of microevolution. Use these lines in your packet next to the images for each of the four modes of microevolution.

Monday, February 14, 2011

How does Evolution Really Work?

Today we started chapter 15, which is on evolution. For homework, watch the video clip below and answer the questions in your packet.



We also watched a clip on the difference between a theory and a hypothesis.



Who was Charles Darwin? Your book gives some information on him, watch this clip to learn more.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Reading Quiz Tomorrow

Read section 15.2 and take notes for a reading quiz.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Whoa, sorry for the missing posts!

Sorry about the missing posts! Yikes!

Tuesday you had the test and Wednesday/today we extracted DNA from strawberries. Tomorrow we will be doing gel electrophoresis.

Click here to see the virtual lab.

Monday, February 7, 2011

DNA Articles

Today we spent time reading and interpreting articles from Science Daily. Click on the titles of the articles to link directly to them.

Smoking Causes Genetic Damage Within Minutes After Inhaling

If Junk DNA is Useful, Why Is It Not Shared More Equally?

Jumping Genes Caught in the Act: New Evidence That the Genome Contains Many Mobile Elements

First View of DNA Damage Within The Entire Human Genome

Tomorrow you have a test on sections 12.1, 12.2, DNA replication, Transcription & Translation

Friday, February 4, 2011

Wrapping up Transcription and Translation

Today we finished transcription and translation. On Tuesday you have a test on Chapter 12 and the notes you took in class.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Transcription & Translation

Today we learned about transcription & translation. Watch the videos below to help you review what happens in these two processes. Click here for the link to complete your homework.

Transcription



Translation

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

DNA Replication

Today we learned about DNA replication. Click the picture below to link to the animation you need to use to complete your homework. The worksheet has been emailed to you via your TASIS email.